"Lucius Malfoy?" Bella exclaimed later that evening, as she stretched out on Narcissa's bed, her younger sister lying, curled up with a pillow that rested on Bella's lap. The two girls were snuggled up together in their pajamas, Narcissa's were the finest pink silk, consisting of a lacy camisole and loose fitting bottoms. Bella's nightdress was covered by a comfy green dressing gown, with a matching pair of green slippers and Narcissa's cat, Lyra, a going away present for her first term at Hogwarts was curled up in a ball beside her.
Narcissa nodded calmly.
"So they're making you marry Lucius Malfoy?" she questioned again, unable to get her head around recent events.
"Making me marry is an extreme term Bella; they haven't cast the imperius curse just yet."
"What are you going to do then?" Bella questioned anxiously.
Narcissa sighed, "I'm not going to do anything at this exact moment in time, I'm still currently dating Charles, though I suspect I should end things sooner rather than later, and Mr Malfoy appears to be chasing after Parkinson."
"Goodness only knows why, she has nothing going for her." There was no answer from Narcissa, so Bella continued, "So why did Mother and Daddy wait so long to tell you then?"
"The Malfoys, while wanting a pre-arranged match, dislike the idea of an arranged marriage, they want it to look like we came together of our own accord." Narcissa rolled her eyes elegantly.
"So it's going to be a real courtship at least?"
"Hardly" she snorted back "it's going to be one huge farce made up to look like a real courtship."
They sat in silence for a while, Bella running her fingers through her sister's soft golden locks, while Narcissa was off in her own thoughts, thoughts that she didn't much feel like sharing for the moment. When her parents told her that she was to marry Lucius Malfoy she had been shocked, and now that feeling was wearing off she was starting to feel more than a little apprehensive, although she had seen the Malfoy heir at school, and around town she barely knew him. Bella did though, she thought suddenly, the pair had had an understanding at Hogwarts, and he was a good friend of Rodolphus, she could ask Bella much of the things that she wanted to know. But not tonight.
Her thoughts were interrupted as her mother came into the room to check that her youngest was alright. She was holding a small candle in one hand, to light the dark passages of Ravensden; however it was unneeded in Narcissa's bedroom, which was, as always full of candles making the room bright and cheery.
"I'm fine mother" Narcissa replied evenly, she just wanted to be left to sit quietly, her mother sensing this, bent over and kissed her on the forehead gently "Goodnight darling, I'll have Aggie bring you up some hot chocolate." She bent over and kissed Bella before sweeping out the room, leaving the faint scent of perfume and powder that Narcissa associated with her mother.
Narcissa had always adored her mother, Druella Black was beautiful, and Narcissa was said to be her mother's image, except for their hair, Druella had a gentle sandy coloured mane, while Narcissa's locks were a heavenly blonde. Narcissa had always tried to be exactly like her mother, as a child she had put her make up on, and played dress-up with her robes. She had always admired her mother's effortless grace, and her first memories were of her girlish laugh.
"Are you very angry with mother?" asked Bellatrix suddenly, Bella had always hated family conflicts, it had broken her heart when Andromeda had run away, and secretly in her heart of hearts she was terrified of loosing another sister in the same way.
"No" Narcissa replied calmly "not really, I guess I'm just a bit confused, my head is reeling from taking all the information in."
"Do you think he knows?" Bella asked thoughtfully.
A frown wrinkled Narcissa's forehead "I don't know, I think he does."
"I guess it explains why he was so nice to you today." Lucius Malfoy rarely did anything unless he could see the benefit in it for himself.
Narcissa sighed heavily; it was all just too much for one day. She rolled over, facing away from Bella, and yawned pointedly. Bellatrix took the hint and left, leaving Narcissa alone, with her cat and with her thoughts.
She was going to marry Lucius Malfoy.
That was all there was now. It could have been worse, Lucius was from a very respectable family, second only to the Blacks themselves, and he was quite handsome, with his aristocratic features and his long blond hair. It wasn't the groom she objected to so much, really all pureblooded wizards were the same as far as she was concerned, and Lucius was considered the best, which was why her parents had agreed to the entire affair.
She rolled over and sighed to herself heavily, she didn't like to not feel in control, and she definitely wasn't in control of this situation, by the sounds of it the Malfoy's were, and that Narcissa definitely didn't like. However, she decided that she was going to work out how to regain the upper hand in the morning. It would be Theodora's party tomorrow night, and there was no point in loosing beauty sleep now, as she would need to look her best. Especially with Parkinson going to be there, and by the looks of things it was becoming increasingly likely that she would be there on Lucius' arm. Narcissa reached for her wand, and with a quick flick extinguished all the candles. She certainly wasn't going to worry about that pathetic excuse for a witch now. She shut her eyes and was soon fast asleep.
"Did you read the papers today?" Bellatrix asked, bounding into Narcissa's room, she had some form of green gloop on her face and her hair was tightly twisted into rollers.
"Is mother helping you get ready for the party?" asked Narcissa sympathetically, as she reached for a hair-grip from the small nervous looking elf who was helping her style her hair.
Bella nodded, and flopped herself down on Narcissa's bed hard "Did you read the prophet today?" she asked anxiously as she waved it around.
"No, why?" asked Narcissa as she tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear and pinned it up gently.
"He was in it again!" Bella told her excitedly.
"Oh really." Narcissa replied uninterestedly. She didn't need to ask who 'He' was; Bellatrix had been going on about this Lord Voldemort and his 'revolutionary' thoughts since she left school. She said that he was going to change the wizarding world. Narcissa doubted it; after all, thinking muggles and muggle-borns were scum was hardly a revolutionary thought, it was really just common sense.
Bella was telling Narcissa about the article in detail, though she wasn't really listening. He had been spouting off about how muggle-borns should be left with the muggles, or something similar, it was always the case.
"…And apparently he's got quite the following now."
"What?" Narcissa asked again, distracted, "Who's got quite the following?"
"Lord Voldemort." Bella sighed; Narcissa had never really taken the same level of interest into politics as her older sister. "Lot's of the boys have joined him. I wonder if he let's girls join?"
"Join what?"
"His group" Bella informed her haughtily "They call themselves the Death Eaters. It's mostly old members of the Knights of Walpurgis though."
"The Death Eaters?" Narcissa's ears suddenly pricked up "Aren't they responsible for those muggle-born deaths that occurred last spring."
Bella nodded conspiratorially "But it was never confirmed."
Narcissa looked pale, "Bell, I don't think you should get messed up in things like that, you'll get into such trouble. Mother and Daddy would have a fit!"
"Oh don't be such a girl, besides" she added threateningly "They'll only find out if you tell them."
"I won't tell them, but I still don't think that it's a good idea! What would Rodolphus think?"
Bella got of the bed and knelt down next to Narcissa, whispering into her ear "He's already a member, and he wants me to join."
"On your head be it" Narcissa told her, hearing the approach of her mother's footsteps, before the pair of them quickly changed the subject.
"Bella go away!" Narcissa ordered as her mother entered the room, "I'm trying to get ready and you're distracting me." She opened a tube of mascara and started applying it gently with her mouth open slightly.
"There you are Bellatrix" her mother huffed as she swept into the room, she was already ready to go, with her hair pinned up in an elegant chignon and wearing black and grey dress robes that were in perfect taste. "Go and wash your face! Leave Narcissa in peace, we want her looking her best for tonight's party now don't we?" However Bella had left the room by the time her mother was telling her to leave Narcissa alone. Mrs Black then went to rest her hands gently on her mother's shoulders.
"I don't suppose it matters what I look like, seeing as I'm already spoken for." Narcissa bit back sounding snappier than she actually felt.
"Now darling, don't be like that. You know perfectly well that it mattes what you look like. You're a Black, and as a Black it's important that you show all the other girls their place in society" she kissed her daughter on the cheek tenderly "that's below you" she whispered with a knowing smile, and despite herself Narcissa smiled an identical smile back. "Now" her mother's breezy attitude was back "what dress are you going to wear tonight?"
"I haven't decided yet" she started to apply her lipstick, a soft peach colour, which brought out the golden honey tones of her skin.
"Well I'll leave you too get ready, goodness knows Bellatrix needs my help more than you do."
Narcissa smiled warmly as her mother bustled off to get Bellatrix ready, her heart going out to her sister, who couldn't abide their mother's fussing at the best of times, let alone when getting ready for a party that she didn't really want to go to. Narcissa applied the finishing touches to her make-up, and wandered over to the closet. She shivered slightly and pulled her dressing-gown around herself tighter, but the soft peach silk did little against the cold breeze coming from underneath the door. She opened up her wardrobe and looked inside, as a debutante, she would be expected to wear something in white, however with her pale skin the colour had never really done her any favours and her mother had ordered her gowns for the season in more of a champagne colour. The dress she chose for that evening was pretty, but relatively demure, after all Theodora was one of her closest friends and she didn't want to risk looking like she was trying to outshine the girl. The dress was plain, straight fitting with soft straps; it was pretty and understated and would be perfectly complemented by the Black family debutante necklace. All the women in the family had worn it at their debutante parties, it had most recently been seen adorning Andromeda's neck, however that wasn't mentioned by her father as he clasped it round her neck shortly before they were due to depart.
When Charles arrived to pick her up in order to escort Narcissa to the party, he looked dashing in his dress-robes, however she noted they weren't new for the occasion, and Narcissa felt a pang knowing that this was the reason that, after tonight, she was going to have to end things with him. However in the meantime she was all smiles and giggles as she posed, first on her own, then with Bellatrix then finally with Charles, while her father took photos to mark the occasion.
"My little Cissa" her father smiled, kissing her on the cheek as she was about to step into the fireplace, "all grown up and attending her first deb party. I'm so proud of you sweetheart." He suddenly looked at her sadly, he was obviously thinking of Andromeda. "You're a good girl Cissa, I don't tell you that enough."
"Don't be silly Daddy" she replied throwing her arms around his neck and giving him a huge hug, before waving brightly and stepping into the fireplace.